2026 Mazda CX-5 teased

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 has been officially teased and locked in for a global reveal on Thursday, July 10, ahead of Australian sales commencing either later this year or early next year.

Following leaked high-contrast images of the 2026 Mazda CX-5 last month, the new teaser images confirm the vehicle’s evolutionary design that appears to retain its predecessor’s overall look while tweaking the details – such as the two-tiered LED-infused headlight clusters.

The rear-end design incorporates BMW-esque LED taillights and a prominent roof spoiler, suggesting the new design will be more sporty than conventional in its overall styling.

Photographed in what looks like the set from the Dune movies, the new CX-5 is unlikely to be a sci-fi extravaganza like vehicles from Chinese challenger brands, but it will come with one key innovation: a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.

This will give it more showroom appeal to keep the top-selling Toyota RAV4 honest, not to mention other hybrid SUVs like the Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is the first all-new version of the mid-size SUV in eight years. The spy photos confirm that the Mazda CX-5 will still be instantly recognisable as the brand’s mid-size SUV, while borrowing a few design cues from the battery-powered EZ-6 (also known as the 6e in some markets).

The 2026 CX-5 is expected to grow in size to better match the RAV4 and will likely be based upon Mazda’s familiar Small Product Group platform (shared with CX-50, MX-30, CX-3, and Mazda3) – although it’s still not clear what platform will underpin Mazda’s much-loved SUV.

A mix of powertrains will be offered including a 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G petrol engine (in FWD and AWD), plus mild-hybrid units, plug-less hybrids like the RAV4 and a flagship plug-in hybrid that could offer up to 100km of EV range.

Inside, expect a large 14.6-inch infotainment screen, a 10.2-inch digital cluster, and premium finishes, plus potentially a few headline-grabbing features that will raise a few eyebrows in the mid-size SUV segment.

Skyactiv-Z petrol engines are due in 2027, post-launch, and despite speculation of a rename to CX-40, Mazda will likely stick with the CX-5 name.

After all, with 349,209 units sold globally in the model’s last full year on sale, there’s a lot of brand equity in the CX-5 name – and a new name would see this frittered away.

Pricing for the new car is still under wraps but expect a hike from the current price range of $36,740 to $55,150. Further details of the new Mazda CX-5 will be announced at its official unveiling next week.

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